Petroleum coke consumption and the increase of its production during the recent years are analyzed. The processing of heavy oils produces less light fractions and more heavy fractions, unbalancing the energetic matrix. To balance this, the petroleum industry usually raises the number of coking units, which consumes the heavy fractions and produces lighter fractions, generating coke as residue. The different forms of using coke generate pollutants that are regulated and controlled in different forms by different countries. It is concluded that, independent of the form in which petroleum coke is consumed, the users should consider the amount of pollutants emitted, mainly sulfur dioxide.